Tips for Successful Garden Parties

Have you offered to host a large crowd for a garden party? Whether you’re commemorating a birthday, anniversary or simply enjoying the company of family, friends or coworkers, garden parties can be great fun for guests of all ages. If you’re an experienced hostess, no doubt you’re excited at the prospect of entertaining a large number of people at your home. For novices, this may well seem daunting. Take these suggestions from the professional event planners and experienced caterers. For any event, advanced planning is the key to success.

The first step is to determine your budget and prepare your guest list. For a casual garden party, it’s perfectly acceptable to send eVites. There are many free templates available from a variety of websites. Well organized dashboards allow you to see who has opened the email as well as a running tally of responses. This certainly simplifies the task of keeping up with rsvp’s. Recruit some assistants and begin to tackle any necessary landscaping clean up and deferred maintenance on your decking or patio. Plant a few extra pots of flowers for added color and a welcoming touch. Consider hanging string lights and add candles for a festive décor. Identify tables for the buffet, bar area as well as ample seating. Extra coolers will also come in handy for ice and drinks.

Begin to plan your menu. You don’t need to be an executive chef to feed a crowd at a garden party. If your guests offer to bring a dish, request they bring appetizers to share. You can then focus on the menu for the main course. This is not the time to experiment with new recipes. If you’re not certain about recipes, try them out on your family in advance. Lasagna, fresh salad and warm bread are always crowd pleasers and simple to prepare in advance. For desert, take advantage of the awesome deals offered by Groupon coupons and select from the terrific assortment of fruit arrangements available from Shari’s Berries. The bonus is they not only do all of the work, but Shari’s Berries also delivers. These fruit bouquets also make stunning centerpieces for your buffet.

Finally, load your favorite play list of festive music and prepare to welcome your guests. No doubt everyone will have a grand time celebrating in your garden and be thankful for the efforts you put forth hosting.